Wikipedia’s anti-SOPA blackout begins on Wednesday

Wikipedia is planning an online “blackout” on Wednesday, in protest against proposed US legislation intended to stem web piracy.

Along with many internet companies, Wikipedia is concerned that the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA) will hold website owners liable for links to sources of illegal music and movie downloading, with a detrimental effect on free speech online.

“The emerging consensus of the community seems to be for a global blackout of English Wikipedia,” Jimmy Wales, co-founder of Wikipedia, said on Twitter on Monday afternoon. “Final details [are] under consideration but consensus seems to be for ‘full’ rather than ‘soft’ blackout… This is going to be wow.”